Iron in the baby's diet

[devotchka]

We had M's 9 month appointment today. Everything is really looking good - the doc does think he has eczema on his legs and a little on his arm and back and recommended long baths (until he is wrinkly) and lots of moisturizing!

M had a finger prick and they tested for iron and while he is in the ok range, he is very low. The doc quickly prescribed a multi-vitamin drop w/ iron but I really would rather just give him more foods w/ iron to see if that helps. I am thinking beans (soaking some black beans right now), beef, turkey and chicken to start with. He loves chicken and turkey - I don't think we've tried beef or beans much yet.

Does anyone have quick and easy recipes with iron-rich foods that we can try?

Also - is anyone supplementing w/ a multi or multi w/ iron? How do the babies tolerate it? The drops she recommended are Poly-vi-sol w/ Iron.

[Deleted]

Eggs!! My kids eat eggs every other day, at least. Also I often make beef stew in the slow cooker, it's tender and easy for DS2 to eat.

[thedahliharpa]

D is anemic and we give My Kidz (spelled that way) iron. But if it were just low iron I would give her the Rainbow Light vitamin powder w/ iron. Cooking in cast iron along with supplementation helped me during pregnancy. I was already eating a ton of iron rich food.

[TrudyCampbell]

Just beware that the liquid iron vitamin can stain their teeth! It happened to Violet

[lolaburns]

Tamb is right! Spinach is a good iron source.


Sent from the bottom of a Clorox bottle.

[irishsara]

Spinach!!!

I have a spinach muffin recipe somewhere. Let me see if I can find it...

[devotchka]

Jan 24, 2013 22:38:33 GMT -5 @starbound said:

Eggs!! My kids eat eggs every other day, at least. Also I often make beef stew in the slow cooker, it's tender and easy for DS2 to eat.

Oh, duh! We have started feeding him eggs. We should do it more often. Do you have a beef stew recipe you can share? I <3 the slow cooker!

[devotchka]

Jan 24, 2013 22:39:26 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Just beware that the liquid iron vitamin can stain their teeth! It happened to Violet

Oh no Which one did you use?

[devotchka]

Jan 24, 2013 22:42:08 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

I think spinach is high in iron.

My doc gave me a print out of iron-rich foods when I was pg, but I can't remember them now.

LIver?

no liver!

I feed him spinach a few times a week. I am really surprised he is on the low side, I seem to feed him enough eggs and greens... I guess I should try more meat .

[erniebufflo]

Claire loves a puree of sweet potato and spinach.

[eav2c]

Jan 24, 2013 22:39:26 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Just beware that the liquid iron vitamin can stain their teeth! It happened to Violet

ahhh, No! We'd been giving it when he was younger (well, just the standard poly-vis-ol) but I am being a super freak about his teeth. 

[mscatra]

If you feel your feeding him a lot of iron rich foods and he's still low, what out on what you're pairing it with. Vitamin C helps absorbtion, calcium hinders it.

[teamhayes]

Jan 24, 2013 22:42:08 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

I think spinach is high in iron.

My doc gave me a print out of iron-rich foods when I was pg, but I can't remember them now.

LIver?

Our kid is now on formula but beforehand we did the Di/Tri whatever they are called drops. Spinach has a lot of Iron in it as well. Look for green leafy vegeatables. Beans and lentil are high iron so is red meat - not sure if you are on meats yet though. Surprisingly artichokes are too - maybe puree some of those up?

[jfh]

Blackstrap molasses is really high in iron. I mix it in with his oatmeal. As Dahli said, cooking in cast iron also helps.

[jfh]

Also, egg doesn't actually have much iron in it. A slice of whole-wheat bread has more.

[devotchka]

Jan 25, 2013 8:14:02 GMT -5 jfh said:

Also, egg doesn't actually have much iron in it. A slice of whole-wheat bread has more.

Huh... interesting, since yolks are at the top of the list on the NIH site.

[devotchka]

Jan 25, 2013 7:03:22 GMT -5 mscatra said:

If you feel your feeding him a lot of iron rich foods and he's still low, what out on what you're pairing it with. Vitamin C helps absorbtion, calcium hinders it.

Good point. 

[jfh]

Jan 26, 2013 1:00:36 GMT -5 devotchka said:

Jan 25, 2013 8:14:02 GMT -5 jfh said:

Also, egg doesn't actually have much iron in it. A slice of whole-wheat bread has more.

Huh... interesting, since yolks are at the top of the list on the NIH site.

Weird! Of course, I assume an NIH/egg industry conspiracy. Here's the list I use:

huhs.harvard.edu/assets/File/OurServices/Service_Nutrition_Iron.pdf

[The Foozzler]

I don't know how you feel about fortified baby cereal, but I mix some into his lunch puree for extra iron.

[greenkitty98]

Here is a link to the list of high iron foods from the Red Cross.

www.redcrossblood.org/iron-rich-foods2

I also mix baby cereal with things like applesauce to help her get a little extra iron. (Plus it's easier for them to try to use a spoon on food that is a little bit thicker and will stick to the spoon instead of running off.)

[bleubook]

Farina hot cereal.

[jfh]

Jan 27, 2013 23:57:56 GMT -5 greenkitty98 said:

I love that they have "brains" on there. Zombies are well-fortified!

[mscatra]

Jan 28, 2013 7:58:09 GMT -5 jfh said:

Jan 27, 2013 23:57:56 GMT -5 greenkitty98 said:

I love that they have "brains" on there. Zombies are well-fortified!

LMAO!  Shouldn't their color be better?

[laurack]

isn't spinach the one that is high in iron but it can't be absorbed? I vaguely remember at my prenatal appointments the midwives saying you'd think spinach would be great for iron but it really isn't?

[jfh]

Jan 28, 2013 8:54:41 GMT -5 laurack said:

isn't spinach the one that is high in iron but it can't be absorbed? I vaguely remember at my prenatal appointments the midwives saying you'd think spinach would be great for iron but it really isn't?

From what I recall it has oxalates in it that block absorption. So it's not the best source, but Vitamin C increases absorption, so if you eat it with C it counteracts the oxalate effect a bit. I researched iron quite a bit during pregnancy since I was entirely vegan at the time.